By Harinder Mahil

British Columbia’s provincial election got much more exciting with an unbelievable move by Kevin Falcon, leader of the BC United Party, on August 28, 2024 to suspend his campaign and endorse the Conservative Party of British Columbia that has not formed government in the province since 1928. 

Some of the BC United MLA’s will run for the BC Conservatives Party. Others, who do not like the Conservative Party’s policies, are weighing their options.

It is surprising that a party, that is the official opposition in the province, will not run any candidates in the upcoming provincial election. Thereisno such precedent of this happening in British Columbia or any other jurisdiction in Canada.

There is speculation in the press that former Liberal premier Christy Clark has been spending time this summer calling on BC United Candidates to run for the Conservative Party. There is also speculation that some members of the business community have been urging Kevin Falcon and John Rustad to unite their efforts to defeat the NDP.

The election will now be fought between the NDP and the Conservative Party of British Columbia.

As I write this column on August 29, the website of BC United is still there with Kevin’s Falcon’s picture. It boasts: “We will keep government small and taxes low, while prioritizing giving people a hand-up to unlock their full potential – not a hand-out.” It still displays the names and photographs of 57 candidates that have been nominated so far.

In May this year,Falcon had announced that talks between the two parties concluded with BC Conservative leader rejecting a “non-competition” agreement between them. Falcon had said John Rustad had “placed his ambition” above the province’s interests and was risking the re-election of the NDP.According to Rustad, Falcon had prioritized personal ambition over party unity and the interests of the province.

Falcon’s move not only surprised ordinary British Columbians but also political experts. Hamish Telford, an associate professor of political science at the University of the Fraser Valley, in an interview stated he was surprised about the timing of the move.

“I am, frankly. I have never in my lifetime of studying politics, and it’s been a long time now, seen a party throw in the towel just before an election. This, I think, is unprecedented in a summer of unprecedented political developments in the United States, we’ve been thrown a new one in British Columbia. Clearly, the polls were telling us BC United, formerly the BC Liberals, were going down to a historic defeat, probably being wiped out completely. But at this juncture, having failed to orchestrate a merger back in the winter and spring, I thought they would fight it out. Evidently, that might not be the case,” he explained.

The issues in the election are likely to be healthcare, economy, housing, education and climate change.

The choice now will be clear for British Columbians: do you want to a party in power that protects and strengthens public health care or a party that will allow private clinics to operate so that there is a two-tier healthcare system. Do you want a party in power that is at the centre (although many call it left of the centre) or a party that is totally right-wing? Do you want a party in power that makes sure everyone should be taken care of in the province or the one that cares for only the rich and millionaires?

Harinder Mahil is a human rights activist and is secretary of the Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation.